Portable folding desk.



F. BERG.

PORTABLE FOLDING DESK.

APPLICATlDN FILED SEPTA]. ISIS- Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

WITNESSES Lea. $1?

ATTORNEY nuvu unm WASN 1m; mu

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCISKA BERG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PORTABLE FOLDING DESK.

Application filed September 8, 1915.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCISKA BERG, a subject of the King of Norway, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable FOlding Desks, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap but effective foldable and portable desk for convenient personal use, a device that may be collapsed into fiat, compact form for storage or transportation, and as readily extended and adapted to the various requirements of use as a support for reading matter, writing materials, &c., as hereinafter more fully set forth,the invention consisting in the specific construction and arrangement described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a view of the interior of my device as opened up and laid flat for convenience in showing the structure, although the device may or may not be used in such extended position; Fig. 2, shows the device as adjusted for use as a reading desk; Fig. 3, represents an end view of the device as ordinarily folded for use on the flat, or for storage or transportation.

Basically the device consists of rigid twin boards or leaves B, B, permanently united on their inner sides by flexible ligaments b, b, which, when the device is set up as a reading desk, as in Fig. 2, act to limit the convergent spread or straddle of the desk boards B, B, as related to each other when the adjacent longitudinal edges b, b, are articularly connected by the coupling straps b b permanently attached to one board and detachably connected with the other board, as by glove button fastenings f, f, or any other equivalent detachable fastening devices. In other words the flexible ligaments b", b", perform the double function of permanently uniting the desk boards B, B, and of acting as stays to prevent the collapse outward of the device when adjusted as in Fig. 2, for use as a reading desk,- it being understood that normally the inner edges Z), I), of the desk boards B, B, are hinged together, as it were, by the coupling straps b 5 although the latter admit of ready detachment from one board so that both boards may be spread out flat in a common plane as shown in Fig. 1, if desired for any reason, as to give free access to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Serial No. 49,421.

pocket or portfolio P, or to afford an extended flat supporting surface, or for packing or storing in extended position if desirable, or for any other reason.

The back of the portfolio P, may be permanently attached to the inner side of either one or the other of the desk boards B, B, and may be made with one or more compartments for the accommodation of writing paper, memoranda, or other flat articles or material which it is desired to keep conveniently accessible for use in connection with the desk. The flap p, may be held closed by a cord fastening p, of well known character as shown in Fig. 1, or by any other suitable fastening or expedient.

The outer or lower edges of the desk boards B, B, are formed with concavities b, 5 terminating at each end of the device in feet 6, b, the latter adapted to rest on a flat surface as illustrated in Fig. 2, while the concavities b b are better adapted to rest on a curved surface or surfaces, as upon the body of a person recumbent, or reclining, or on the knees of a person seated, 810., according to the exigencies of use.

S, is a shelf articularly connected at its inner edge with the front side of one of the desk boards, as B, in the drawings, and adapted to fold up against the same, as indicated in Fig. 3. hen extended substantially at right angles thereto as shown in Fig. 2, it may be used as a support for a book, pamphlet or the like, being sustained in such serviceable position by the flexible bracket-loops s, s, the ends of which are firmly secured to the desk board. These bracketloops s, s, are each of the same length, just sufficient to support the shelf S, in extended position substantially at right angles to the face of the desk board to which it and they are attached as shown in Fig. 2, and hence they, the bracket-loops s, s, afford ample scope for the folding over of the shelf S, against the face of the desk board as shown in Fig. 3,by reference to which it will be seen that when the shelf S, is thus folded back the bracket loops are slack, they being taut only when held so by the shelf S, in its extended or operative position.

A retaining cord R, is positioned above the shelf S, being permanently attached at one extremity to one end of the desk board; and a temporary fastening device 1', being provided at the other end of the desk board by which the free end of the retaining cord B. may he detachably secured after being passed across a book or the like, to hold the leaves or surface open or extended, as well as to retain the article in position on the shelf S. and against the inclined. face of the desk board upon which the shelf S, is mounted.

\Vhile I do not limit myself in this respect, I prefer to make the desk boards 15, B, and shelf S. of stiff. light weight cardboard or the like, to facilitate transportation. manipulation, &c., as well as to economize in initial expense. There is another advantage in making the device cheap and mainly of cardboard or other combustible material. in that it is then adapted to be readily burnt as a precautionary measure of sanitation after use by a person or persons afflicted with contagious disease. In fact it is especially adapted to the requirements and convenience of sick persons and convalescents, and to the use of old or feeble per sons. as well as for general use, either as a reading or writing desk, or as a medium of support for other articles or material.

It is to be noted that when the deskhoards are opened up as in Fig. 2, for use as a book support or the like, the weight of the desk or article or articles placed thereon will be shared by the desk boards in such manner that if the device rests upon the person of the user, the latter will not be hurt or inconvenienced thereby,and this result is further assured by the concavities .7), 6 formed in the lower portions of the boards B, B, which are thus made to conform in a general way to the person of the user. thereby distrlbuting the weight and strain over a relatively large contact surface and preventing the feet I). 7/", from causing uneven and uncoinfortablc pressure.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.

l. The portable folding desk described comprising rigid twin leaves, flexible ligann'nts permanently uniting the same on their inner edges and limiting the convergent spread of said leaves and preventing the collapse thereof. and means permanently connected to the longitudinal edge of one l af and detachal'ily connected with the adjacent longitudinal edge of the other leaf to articularly connect said leaves.

2. The portable folding desk described,

comprising rigid twin leaves, flexible. ligainents permanently uniting the same on their inner edges and limiting the convergent spread of said leaves and preventing the collapse thereof, means permanently connected to the longitudinal edge of one leaf and detachably connected with the adjacent longi tudinal edge of the other leaf to articularly connect said leaves. and flexible bracket loops connected to the leaf near its outer edge and adapted to support a shelf and (35 \V. S. BEvANs, M. D. MAcniN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

